Paper Team

Alex and Nick invite Des Doyle, director of the Showrunners documentary, and behind several writing programs for Screen Skills Ireland, to discuss international TV writing and exporting the showrunner model to other markets. How does the American showrunner model differ from the way television is written internationally? How do you create that setup globally? How does auteur theory impact TV? Why is there a rising cost in television production? How do you move up the ladder of TV writing outside America? Is the showrunner model the best for a writers' room? The Paper Team exports itself... SHOWNOTES Content Showrunning and International TV models with Des Doyle (00:53) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (51:56) Links Des Doyle on Twitter Showrunners documentary "Showrunners" - Tara Bennett Screen Ireland Screen Skills Ireland "Judge Dredd Owner Rebellion Sets Up $100 Million U.K. Film and TV Studio" - Variety Resources Children of Tendu 3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick discuss cold contacting people. From formulating queries for your scripts to the proper etiquette when reaching out, learn how you should go about contacting people who don't know you. What are the best ways of contacting people cold? Do query letters work? What should you put in a query letter? How do people perceive you when you reach out? What is the proper etiquette to cold contacting people? Plus, we celebrate our new Patreon subscribers! The Paper Team formulates... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - How to cold contact people (02:24) 2 - Query Letters (17:30) 3 - Etiquette: Dos and donts (26:03) Takeaways, Resources, and Next Week On (35:51) Links Paper Team on Patreon "Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood" (PT05) "Managing TV Writers ft. Daniela Garcia-Brcek (Circle of Confusion)" (PT59) "TV Writer Representation 201" (PT108) "How to Follow Up (Without Seeming Desperate)" (PT07) Resources Star Wars Cover Letter This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite Julia Yorks, writer on The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy, and Trolls: The Beat Goes On, to discuss finding stability as a nascent TV writer and moving up the ladder. How do you navigate building a career as a new TV writer? How do you deal with the instability of the profession? How can you balance other jobs with writing? What is the process of transitioning to full-time staff writer? How was the writing process of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy and Trolls? The Paper Team steps up... SHOWNOTES Content Finding stability as an up-and-coming TV writer with Julia Yorks (00:53) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (42:17) Links Julia Yorks on Twiter The Adventures of Puss in Boots Skylanders Academy Trolls: The Beat Goes On "Finding Content for Digital TV ft. Hillary Levi (VRV)" (PT112) Jack Reacher (Film) Julia Yorks on Cinemorgue Resources "Save The Cat" - Blake Snyder This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite fellow TV writers Liz Alper (The Rookie/Hawaii Five-0) & Kai Wu (Deception/The Flash) to debate what samples are worth writing, and how they get ready for staffing season. Are features better samples than TV pilots or specs? Should writers chase trends? What are ways of researching a spec script? How can you get ready for staffing season? How do you handle a difficult showrunner as a staff writer? Plus, we give feedback on three Paper tease entries and discuss the latest TV writing news. The Paper Team cuts deep... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Tease Session (00:00:48) 1 - TV writing samples and getting ready for staffing season with Liz Alper & Kai Wu (00:17:33) 2 - Paper Scraps: SMILF allegations, Bandersnatch, and TV watching (00:52:16) Final Advice and Next Week On (01:07:53) Paper Tease Entries "Endwell" by Diana Lampiasi "Test.ed" by Melissa Long "Mediocre" by Chris Thomas Links Liz Alper on Twitter Kai Wu on Twitter The Rookie on ABC Deception Daniel Kunka's Twitter thread Kai and Liz's Twitter responses Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg on Writing (Video) "'SMILF' Creator Frankie Shaw Investigated Over Misconduct Claims" - The Hollywood Reporter "Sexually Explicit Casting Contract for HBO's 'Westworld' Extras Has SAG-AFTRA Concerned" - The Hollywood Reporter "HBO Hires “Intimacy Coordinators” To Monitor On-Set Sex" - Deadline "Inside the 2-Year Journey of 'Bandersnatch'" - The Hollywood Reporter Lords & Ladles Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Nailed It! This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback,

Alex and Nick invite Alethea Jones, director on Queen America, Wrecked and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street, to discuss what goes behind directing TV comedies and half-hour shows. What is the role of a director in television? How can writers better convey action for directors? How does a director work with a TV writer on set? What are differences between directing children's television and comedies? How do directors handle crossboarding? What are the responsibilities of being a producing director? The Paper Team takes the shot... SHOWNOTES Content Directing for TV comedies and dramas with Alethea Jones (00:43) Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (44:27) Links Alethea Jones on Twitter Queen America on Facebook Wrecked Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street Strictly Ballroom Gretchen Enders Charles Randolph Babylon Berlin Succession Resources DaFont Shot Designer Scriptation This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick discuss why TV formulas still matter and how to build a successful TV engine for your pilot and show. What is a TV engine? Why is a "formula" a necessary ingredient for a sustainable TV series? What are some ways serialized and character-based series use formulas to their advantage? How do you generate a sustainable and compelling engine for your show? How do you express that formula in a script? Plus, we launch our Patreon page and are hosting a mixer to celebrate! The Paper Team regenerates... SHOWNOTES Announcements 1 - Paper Team is now on Patreon! You can support us starting as little as $2/month and get exclusive TV writing advice in exchange, including cheat sheets and bonus episodes. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/paperteam 2 - To celebrate the launch, we're having a free mixer! Join us Saturday, January 19 at the Harlowe Bar in West Hollywood. The event starts at 5PM and runs all evening. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixer Content Announcements: Patreon launch and Mixer details (00:26) 1 - Why formulas are still important in TV (03:39) 2 - How to generate a TV engine (09:09) 3 - Common questions and problems (22:44) Takeaways and Next Week On (26:34) Links TV Pilot 101 (PT30) TV Pilot 201: Keeping the Reader Interested (PT84) Day Break Act Breaks (PT15) Weaving Storylines: A/B/C Stories (PT53) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode and everyone else who supported us this year. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick celebrate the holidays by taking a look back at an eventful 2018, for both Paper Team and TV writing, as well as revealing what's next for the podcast in the new year. What were the most popular Paper Team episodes of the year? What were our favorite shows, movies, music and books of 2018? What are some of our goals for 2019? What gifts did Alex and Nick exchange? Plus, big things are coming in the next month. The Paper Team parties on... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Paper Team Announcements: Patreon, Mixer and Mentorship (00:54) 2 - Paper Team 2018: A year in review (04:51) 3 - Best of 2018 (TV, movies, music, books, episodes) (21:47) 4 - Paper Team goals for 2019 (43:11) Gift Exchange and Next Time On (45:25) Links Paper Tease TV Script Competition The TV Writers' Room - A TV Calling Community (Facebook Group) "An Evening in the Writers’ Room" (PT100) "TV Writing Programs and Fellowships" (PT85) "TV Pilot 201" (PT84) "Analyzing Great TV Characters" (PT72) "Tips and Tricks for TV Writing" (PT93) Counterpart Bodyguard The Haunting of Hill House (TV Show) Gerald's Game (Movie) Killing Eve The Good Fight Big Mouth Barry "Flight of the Conchords: Live in London" "The Sincerest Form of Flattery" (1x07 - Counterpart) "Two Storms" (1x06 - The Haunting of Hill House) "Kiksuya" (1x08 - Westworld) "Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going" (1x07 - Barry) "Free Churro" (5x06 - BoJack Horseman) "The Ballad of Donkey Doug" (3x06 - The Good Place) Bluey Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj "Airborne" by Prinze George "Between Two Shores" by Glen Hansard A Star Is Born (2018 Movie) Avengers: Infinity War

Alex and Nick invite Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich, writers on Neflix's One Day at a Time and Freeform's The Bold Type, to discuss their experiences working in both half-hour and one-hour TV writers' rooms. How do you approach your first days in a writers' room? What are some of the differences and challenges between breaking a half-hour and a one-hour show? What lessons can TV writers take from working in both multi-cam and drama rooms? How do you adapt to differences in tone between the formats? How are stories broken on One Day at a Time and The Bold Type? What was it like working on a Humanitas-nominated episode of TV? How can you use branding to your advantage as a writer? What are some tips for successfully transitioning between formats and genre? The Paper Team changes tone... SHOWNOTES Content Writing for both TV comedy and TV drama with Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich (00:37) Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (47:28) Links Michelle Badillo on Twitter Caroline Levich on Twitter "One Day at a Time" on Netflix "The Bold Type" on Freeform Gloria Calderon Kellett Hollywood Fringe Festival Dan Hernandez "Hello, Penelope" (2x09 - One Day at a Time) Amanda Lasher Resources "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" by Carol Leifer "Just the Funny Parts" by Nell Scovell The Comeback Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite Cinqué Lee, indie filmmaker and writer on Netflix's She's Gotta Have It, to have a fascinating discussion about transitioning from movies to television, as well as adapting features to TV series. How does the writers' room of She's Gotta Have It work? How do life experiences help shame themes and characters? How does writing TV compare to writing ongoing issues of a comic? What is it like working for Jim Jarmusch? What are lessons to take into writing from being on set and from acting? The Paper Team gets it... SHOWNOTES Content Working in features and TV with Cinqué Lee (00:30) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (45:24) Links Cinqué Lee "She's Gotta Have It" available on Netflix The Answer Mystery Train Coffee and Cigarettes Crooklyn "Floaters" - Cinqué Lee, Sean Fagan, Lance Tooks Resources "On Writing" - Stephen King Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick offer feedback on four more teasers and cover a couple TV headlines from the past month, including expensive overall deal and top executives leaving their networks. Plus, we give official information about our Paper Team Mentorship! The Paper Team eyes the prize... SHOWNOTES Paper Tease Entries "Valkyrie" by Jamel Northern "Together Alone" by Tyler Jordan & Mark Anthony "Totally Human" by Josh Naquin "Gasland" by Augusto Federico Amador & Diggi Singh Links "J.J. Abrams Seeking Record-Shattering Overall Megadeal" - Variety "The death of Hollywood’s middle class" - Fast Company "ABC shakeup: Channing Dungey resigns; Karey Burke becomes entertainment president" - Los Angeles Times Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite Hillary Levi, creative executive at Ellation and developing shows for their streaming platform VRV, to discuss finding content for streaming and aggregation services. How does an OTT decide which content is best suited for its service? What are important aspects of a VRV project? How can a platform maintain a consistent product with rotation in its programming? How does a creative executive find writers to work with? How can creators best approach a network like VRV with projects for development? The Paper Team curates... SHOWNOTES Content Finding OTT Content with Hillary Levi (00:36) Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (36:33) Links Hillary Levi on Twitter VRV LeviathanStudiosLA (Hillary's Etsy store) Sailor Moon Ellation Crunchyroll Machinima Red vs. Blue Rooster Teeth Matthew Mercer Matt Fraction Warren Ellis Kelly Sue DeConnick "TV Production Companies ft. Logan Kriete (Producer & Development Executive)" (PT74) "Digital Content & Emerging Platforms ft. Eva Miller (Canvas Media Studios)" (PT80) "Tan ft. Hasan Minhaj" (Video) Resources "The Hollywood Assistants Handbook" - Peter Nowalk & Hillary Stamm Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite LaToya Morgan, co-executive producer on Into the Badlands and writer on Turn, Shameless and Parenthood, to discuss how she approached building a productive career as a TV writer and being valuable in the room. What is the journey of moving up the ladder from staff writer to co-executive producer? What are some of the best assets someone can bring into a writers' room? How do you adapt your own writing to fit different styles and genres? How were the writers' rooms of Shameless, Parenthood, and Turn? What is the process of getting an overall deal? What are the unique challenges that diverse writers face in the TV industry? The Paper Team rises... SHOWNOTES Content TV writing career with LaToya Morgan (00:50) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (37:29) Links LaToya Morgan on Twitter LaToya Morgan on Instagram "LaToya Morgan Re-Ups Overall Deal With AMC, Will Oversee Inclusion Initiative" - Deadline "Hugh Howey’s ‘Wool’ in Development as AMC Series From LaToya Morgan" - Variety WGAw's Committees Resources "On Writing" - Stephen King "Bird by Bird" - Anne Lamott This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick discuss ways to decide what your next TV sample script should be. From business considerations to artistic and career reasons, we go over several elements that we've weighed ourselves when choosing a new project. How do you take a look at your own samples to decide what is missing? Why is it important to select the right sample? How can a new sample help pivot your career? What should you look for in choosing the right script? Plus, we look at two more Paper Tease entries and reveal the October winners. The Paper Team makes a selection... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Tease Session (00:49) 1 - Writer and career reasons (16:14) 2 - Business reasons (24:10) 3 - Artistic reasons (31:52) Takeaways and Next Week On (36:09) Paper Tease Entries "Children of Salem" by Dylan Brann "Socio Club" by Koby Mann Links Comedy v. Drama: Declare Your TV Major (PT02) TV Writer Representation 201: Making the Most of Your Agent/Manager (PT108) This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick give their thoughts on the latest TV writing news, including the 2018 Emmys and new diversity initiatives, plus offer feedback on two more Paper Tease entries. The Paper Team reviews... SHOWNOTES Paper Tease Entries "Alma" by Monica Hannush "Shadowlands" by Christopher Hall Links "Why Are So Many Wannabe Screenwriters Getting Scammed?" - The Hollywood Reporter Federman's Twitter thread on pitching Federman's Twitter thread on writers' rooms "As TV Seeks Diverse Writing Ranks, Rising Demand Meets Short Supply" - New York Times A Latino TV Writer Calls B.S. on Hollywood’s Diversity Excuses (Guest Column) - The Hollywood Reporter "LaToya Morgan Re-Ups Overall Deal With AMC, Will Oversee Inclusion Initiative" - Deadline Monkeypaw Productions' Script Submission "TV's writers' rooms have a mother of a problem" - CNN This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick dig into how you can effectively navigate the relationship with your agent or manager to best help your career as a TV writer. What are the differences between a manager and an agent relationship with their writers? Why is communication the most important part of that relationship? What are ways of proactively helping your reps? How should you choose the right agent or manager for you? What are some common issues between clients and their reps? The Paper Team keeps you in the loop... SHOWNOTES Content The manager and agent relationship (00:38) How to communicate with your agent or manager (06:04) Notes and disagreements (19:04) Choosing the right rep for you (28:46) Frequent issues between reps and clients (38:10) Takeaways and Resources (48:05) Links TV Writer Representation 101 (PT31) Meetings 101: Generals and TV Staffing (PT62) Poochinski Tone in TV Writing (PT60) Resources "How to Manage Your Agent" - Chad Gervich Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co